Thursday, October 09, 2008
Demonstration Accomplished
Looks like I'm going to get a chance to write something after all.
I'm here at work and the demonstration lesson I wrote about yesterday is over. It went pretty much as I expected it would, although there really were way too many people in the room. In fact, at least a dozen spectators stood in the hallway and looked in through the windows. Were the other lessons as crowded as ours, or is the sixth grade where all the action is? Perhaps they can't get enough of me personally? It's not like I was the only foreigner on display for the crowd - each class had an native English speaker (all Americans, actually) to help out.
Once class was over, everyone started to migrate to the gymnasium for some kind of massive meeting/briefing/lecture on English education. I really wasn't looking forward to two and a half hours of non-stop Japanese nonsense, to be honest. That sounds harsh as I don't understand most of what they discuss during these gatherings, but I've attended enough of these to know that nothing that occurs will have any impact on my job. All the teachers from other schools who insist on having me (the assistant language teacher) run the class because they are too embarrassed/unprepared/disinterested, they're not going to come away from this meeting and have an epiphany. They're going to continue to have me do their jobs for them because that's how they've always handled English class before. At this point, I've come to accept that as the norm.
You might be wondering what the point of these meetings is - I know I am. Certainly at this school, the good one where English is well-taught and the kids are enthusiastic about the subject (if occasionally distracted - they are still kids), these teachers no doubt process the feedback from the visiting big shots who evaluate the demonstrations and offer pages and pages of advice. One of the reasons the meetings take so long is the visiting speaker/authority has to read over and elaborate on all the notes he has to offer. But why do all these other people show up? Is it a form of entertainment? Do they go back to their schools wondering how this school gets English right, then continue to silently park themselves in the rear of the classroom when I come to visit?
Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way. Perhaps the reaction to these massive presentations is like the reaction I get from my students: very few take it seriously but those who do are genuinely impressed. I know when I face down a classroom with forty sixth-graders at least half are trying to take a nap during class, but I know there's three or four kids out there who really want to participate and get something out of my lesson. I keep that in my mind and I perform as best I can to the entire group in the hopes that those few attentive kids will take what they can get and not quit because their peers think speaking proper English is nerdy (but speaking broken English is cool - go figure). So in a large gathering of English teachers, few of whom actually give a crap about teaching English, those few who do might do their part at their schools to advance English education from "obligatory busy work" to "actual subject worthy of study."
If my theory is correct and a small contingent of students and teachers really do come away from this with a renewed interest in English (and I sure as hell hope so), then all of this is completely worth it. One thing's for sure: we are going out to eat and drink after this is over and that is good news for everybody involved.
Evening update photo: me drinking at the dinner party. Sharp-eyed viewers can spot why my tie is awesome. Sadly, only one co-worker noticed.
I'm packing for my trip now. Feit...out
I'm here at work and the demonstration lesson I wrote about yesterday is over. It went pretty much as I expected it would, although there really were way too many people in the room. In fact, at least a dozen spectators stood in the hallway and looked in through the windows. Were the other lessons as crowded as ours, or is the sixth grade where all the action is? Perhaps they can't get enough of me personally? It's not like I was the only foreigner on display for the crowd - each class had an native English speaker (all Americans, actually) to help out.
Once class was over, everyone started to migrate to the gymnasium for some kind of massive meeting/briefing/lecture on English education. I really wasn't looking forward to two and a half hours of non-stop Japanese nonsense, to be honest. That sounds harsh as I don't understand most of what they discuss during these gatherings, but I've attended enough of these to know that nothing that occurs will have any impact on my job. All the teachers from other schools who insist on having me (the assistant language teacher) run the class because they are too embarrassed/unprepared/disinterested, they're not going to come away from this meeting and have an epiphany. They're going to continue to have me do their jobs for them because that's how they've always handled English class before. At this point, I've come to accept that as the norm.
You might be wondering what the point of these meetings is - I know I am. Certainly at this school, the good one where English is well-taught and the kids are enthusiastic about the subject (if occasionally distracted - they are still kids), these teachers no doubt process the feedback from the visiting big shots who evaluate the demonstrations and offer pages and pages of advice. One of the reasons the meetings take so long is the visiting speaker/authority has to read over and elaborate on all the notes he has to offer. But why do all these other people show up? Is it a form of entertainment? Do they go back to their schools wondering how this school gets English right, then continue to silently park themselves in the rear of the classroom when I come to visit?
Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way. Perhaps the reaction to these massive presentations is like the reaction I get from my students: very few take it seriously but those who do are genuinely impressed. I know when I face down a classroom with forty sixth-graders at least half are trying to take a nap during class, but I know there's three or four kids out there who really want to participate and get something out of my lesson. I keep that in my mind and I perform as best I can to the entire group in the hopes that those few attentive kids will take what they can get and not quit because their peers think speaking proper English is nerdy (but speaking broken English is cool - go figure). So in a large gathering of English teachers, few of whom actually give a crap about teaching English, those few who do might do their part at their schools to advance English education from "obligatory busy work" to "actual subject worthy of study."
If my theory is correct and a small contingent of students and teachers really do come away from this with a renewed interest in English (and I sure as hell hope so), then all of this is completely worth it. One thing's for sure: we are going out to eat and drink after this is over and that is good news for everybody involved.
Evening update photo: me drinking at the dinner party. Sharp-eyed viewers can spot why my tie is awesome. Sadly, only one co-worker noticed.
I'm packing for my trip now. Feit...out
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*Revisiting Bio Shock and falling asleep at the controller* Sure, it's good. But, how much can a YEAR old game that's been collecting dust excite a person. I'm mean, I recommend it, most def. You should play it when you can, certainly.
コメントがあります？ Type something, please. It's less work for me.# posted by 
: 12 October, 2008 04:42
: 12 October, 2008 04:42When leaving comments, please don't remain Anonymous. Click on "Other" and pick a name!
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